SCOTT McDONALD admits Motherwell hit the panic button last season as the club slid towards a relegation play-off spot.

And the Fir Park striker is adamant that having to go through the nerve-shredding shoot-out with Rangers – which Well strolled on a 6-1 aggregate scoreline – will motivate Ian Baraclough’s squad to ensure there is no repeat this term.

He fully intends using to it help the Lanarkshire outfit enjoy more success than last season.

McDonald said: “We were absolutely shocked by what happened. I think there were panic stations and the boys were worried about what the future held.

“It was hard work to achieve what they achieved in previous years but they’ve always been looking down on everyone else and not looking up.

“So it was a shock to the system but a reality check as well. Everyone doesn’t want that again and it’s all systems go.

“This season has to be about stability. Everyone will be aiming for a top-six finish and we’re no different. Let’s see where that takes us. We proved in the play-offs against Rangers that we can do it on the big occasion.

“But it’s important we do that week-in and week-out, in December when the rubbish weather comes in – that’s when we’ve got to perform as well.”

The Aussie believes there’s no reason why Motherwell can’t contend in the cups and realises picking up a trophy on the 25th anniversary of their Scottish Cup triumph in 1991 would be special for everyone at the club.

He said: “If I can win a trophy during that time then that would be great. It’s been a long time since Motherwell last won anything – it will be 25 years next season since they won the Scottish Cup so we’re due a cup run.

“It’d be nice to do that again and when you see some of the clubs that have been successful in recent years there’s no reason why we couldn’t do that.

“It’d be nice to mark that anniversary with another trophy but as always the league will be the priority.”

McDonald was given a hero’s welcome when he returned to the club where he’d made his name last season before leaving for a successful career with Celtic.

And he revealed being wanted so much played a huge part in his decision to ignore other offers and commit himself to at least one more year at Fir Park.

He said: “The manager, who had a big part in me coming back here, has been speaking to me pretty regularly and the amount the club wanted me to stay was huge.

“It’s a fresh start for everyone and the manager who is putting his mark on the club because anyone coming in halfway through a season it’s difficult to do what you want to do and you haven’t got the time to bring in the players you want either.

"It’s a new start for everyone and hopefully it’ll be a successful one.

“I looked at all my options over the summer before making my decision. It came down to what this club means to me and also what it brings to me.

“There’s the warmth that I feel when I step through the door and how I’m treated here was a big factor.

“I have a lot of special memories at Fir Park and I still have my house here so moving back was an easy option. We have another baby on the way too and that was a massive factor as well.

“There were more lucrative offers on the table but I’ve been lucky enough to have had a decent career and done okay out of the game so this was more about me being happy again.

“It’s been a tough road in the last few years in terms of finding happiness within my football but I was really enjoying it again at the back end of last season. Being one of the senior players and being asked to take on extra responsibility was really nice and it was great to see young players doing well and Lee Erwin moving on.

“Hopefully myself, the coaching staff and the other older guys can help our youngsters push on.

“I have a one-year deal and I have the option to extend that.

“I want to play for as long as I can and I’m a lot fitter these days – as I’ve proved by playing in the middle of the park last season! We’ll see how this year pans out. It’s one step at a time but if my family is happy then I’m happy.

“I don’t really have a long-term plan. Would I go back to Australia? If you’d asked me six or seven years ago I’d have said no because I didn’t see my future anywhere else other than Celtic.

“Things change quickly in football. I want to be a manager but I hope I can play for another five years or so.

“But we took a lot of confidence from that and the type of players we have here, we’ve got some exciting young players and a lot of pace in the team so we’ll look to build on that.”

He’s looking to get off to a quick start in the league in the hope of avoiding a repeat of last season.

He said: “Thankfully everything went well at the end of last season. It was a stressful time, I didn’t think it was going to be that stressful but Ross County just kept winning and fair play to them. Jim McIntyre did a fantastic job there and they’ll be strong again this year.

“There are a lot of strong teams this year and on their day anyone can beat anyone, probably even Celtic.

“Consistency is a key word and Celtic have got the experience of doing that and know how to win games so it’ll be difficult for everyone else but Aberdeen will be looking to improve as well.

“But I look forward to the challenge this year, it’s going to be an interesting one and to play against the top half table teams will be a good challenge for me.

“It’s always nice to get a good start, it doesn’t guarantee you anything but everyone wants to get off to winning ways very early and we’ll be no different.

“It’s going to be a tough start, we’ve got Inverness away and then play Dundee United, Hearts and Aberdeen.